From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 4:06 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #455; Aug. 23, 2000 - Urgent Post Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #455; Aug. 23, 2000 There are six messages in today's list: very sick boy-urgent post rascal, me again Poddo My 5 year old named Bandit Ferris, Maxim, K.C. surgeries New food info, phone # in Co. (Gary H.) FERRET ADRENAL/INSULINOMA MAILING LIST (FAIML) is a list featuring support and information about adrenal and insulinoma diseases. It comes out in digest format three to six times per week, depending on the urgency and number of posts. It is the opinion, only, of subscribers, and is not intended as medical advice, comes with no guarantee of accuracy, and is not meant to replace the examination and medical oversight of a qualified veterinarian. If your ferret is exhibiting signs of illness please take him or her to the most ferret-experienced vet you can. A ferret-experienced vet is one of the most important services you can provide for your ferret. TO POST: Write POST at the end of your subject heading (the more specific you can be in your subject heading, the better) and send to . URGENT POSTS: If you feel the message is urgent please mark it POST URGENT and I'll send it out to subscribers as soon as I can, then include the message in the next list. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: Please write POST ANONYMOUS after your subject heading if you don't want your address or last name published. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: Just use the one address for posts, subscription questions, requests, cancellations, comments, etc. The list is run by hand so just send me an email. ADRENAL/INSULINOMA WEBSITE and FAIML ARCHIVES/PHOTOS: For more info, check out Michael Janke's adrenal/insulinoma web site: . Past FAIMLs are archived there, with a search feature, and there is a FAIML album featuring pictures of FAIML subscribers and their ferrets. FERRET CENTRAL WEBSITE and PAM GREENE's FERRET FAQs: Ferret Central Website is the grand intersection of ferret websites, at . You can also find the Ferret FAQs there, which include invaluable FAQs on insulinoma and adrenal diseases. I forward these two FAQs to all new subscribers, and will gladly send them upon request. I also send the "Disease Package", a file that tells how to get all six of Pamela Greene's FAQs on ferret diseases. Pam also has excellent FAQ's about general ferret care. FERRET MAILING LIST (FML): The FML has 3,000+ ferret-loving subscribers and the topic is simply ferrets, ferrets, and more ferrets. Moderated by Mr. Bill Gruber, it's a great source of ferret entertainment and information. Visit FERRET CENTRAL on the web (see paragraph above) for more info on the FML. To subscribe to the FML, send email to its moderator, Bill Gruber, at and ask to be added. You can also try subscribing automatically by sending email to with the command SUBSCRIBE FERRET in the body of the email. Date: 22 Aug 00 20:27:48 -0500 From: felty@t-one.net very sick boy-urgent post Hello, Can anyone help? My ferret had exploratory surgery on friday, the tests results came back today,ANTOPLASMIC ENTNITIS, not sure how to spell it. My vet doesnt know how to treat it and my boy is going down hill fast. The vet has a call into Kansas St univ., foe help. Anyone heard of this or know who contact let me know, time is crucial. Thanks Christy Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 22:14:09 EDT From: Bugsy39@aol.com rascal, me again hi lynn, can you do me a favor and post both my letters to your newsletter so that the whole story (history) is explained and maybe someone has heard or experienced it? from the 13 th newsletter and the next day i posted another Q. Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 20:56:43 EDT From: Bugsy39@aol.com Post- adrenal surgery aggression, other problems been with the newsletter a long time, and its very helpful. to get to the problem, my male almost 5 yr old ferret, named rascal, has been thru the mill, since hes been a month old hes had everything, including 2 surgeries, his latest one tho has been for left side adrenal done in june 9th. its now aug 13th, he now shows signs of aggresiveness with his only cage mate and buddy, which he did last time as well, he's also losing slight hair on one side of his thigh, my major concern tho is, after all this, as of late, hes begun to dribble pee while he walks, runs, and yesterday he defecated as he walked, as tho he didnt know it had happened, hes always been very good going to the cage, and a very clean pet, i love him dearly, could it be the other adrenal, tho, they checked the other side when they went in for the first, hell be 5 in jan. like i say hes been thru other surgerys one for blockage and one for a tumor on his tail, which was performed 2 months prior to his adrenal surgery, plus he has cronic ulcers which we medicate him for. ive spent nearly $2.000 in a little over 2 months. im not putting a price tag on him, but someone must know whats wrong, any info can help, thanks diane and rascal, and ryley please read further hi there, Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 07:07:49 EDT From: Bugsy39@aol.com Rascal its me again, Diane, when i wrote last night about rascals problem with dribbling, when i got up this morning i found he had a very unsteady gait and almost seemed to be dragging his hind legs, could these things be something together such as a tumor located on his prostate and if so, would it affect his walking? he hasnt fallen or anything, and when i tickle his feet he moves them. thanks again for any help in this matter. diane Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 15:48:37 EDT From: PoddoFeret@aol.com Poddo Hiya, I'm trying to get some info on insulinoma, and figured people who have or who have had fuzzies with insulinoma would be the best to ask. I took Poddo, along with 4 more of my fuzzies, to the vet for shots about 2 weeks ago. While there I had a BG test done on Poddo since her identical twin died shortly over a year ago from insulinoma. Her BG came back at 78. We go back on Sept. 10 to have another test done. Well, I am asking what I should expect if we come to the conclusion she has insulinoma. People so far have been recommending surgery for her first. But since she's only 1lb 3 oz. I don't know if she'll end up being a good surgery candidate. What should I expect in case she isn't, or if she is, what should I expect after the surgery? What drugs are used for insulinomic ferrets??? I want to go back to the vet armed with info so when she starts telling me about what's to come I have some idea of what she's telling me and so hopefully I won't be completely shocked with her info for me. Right now she told me to give her a little Nutri-cal daily (some people have said that's not ok, but the ferret owners that I talk to most said for now it's ok, since the sugar in it isn't much and is pure sugar, not artificial, and is only temporary) She also told me that since there's currently no symptoms to keep a close watch on her and if she develops symptoms suddenly or in force to bring her back immidatly. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! PoddoFeret (mommy) Poddo, Minga, Nibbles, Skittles, Max, Snowball My Mom's Fuzzies Cody, Bear, Dynamo, Princess Cera Ann Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 15:03:41 EDT From: REPOSTACY@aol.com My 5 year old named Bandit Hello my name is Stacy and I live in California (not the best place for a sick ferret) I have been going to a doctor in Castro Valley for about a year now with my 5 ferrets (Bandit 5 years old, Peaches and Nevada 3 1/2 years and Marshmallow and Tazzie 1 year olds) A couple of months ago I noticed Bandit was loosing hair on his back and legs and his tail was getting thin also I thought since I had switched there foods he was having an allergic reaction but of course now we know how silly that was to believe. Peaches on the other hand has had the tip of her tail bald since January with no progression or regrowth and the doctor doesn't seem to concerned with that at this point. Bandit on the other hand was diagnosed with Adrenal and we went to surgery on Tuesday, August 8th. The Monday before the doctor was going to test Bandit and see if there was anything else going on with him before they started surgery and let me know that evening. Well, Monday evening the results weren't back and I was told they would call me Tues. morning to let me know the results I again said that if there was anything else wrong I wasn't going to have the surgery and put him through any pain. Well, Tuesday morning I called and Bandit was in surgery I asked about the test results and the nurse said once the doctor was done with surgery he would contact me but thought the results were fine since they started the surgery. Well, surgery went fine and the doctor called and said that they would keep me posted on Bandits recovery. I picked him up on Thursday and paid (a very high bill) Bandit seemed okay for what just happened to him and I have to give him 3 medicines. But Friday the doctor called and said that the adrenal results were good they were not cancerous just overactive. That was the good thing. The bad thing is he has insuloma, and all the cases he has seen once diagnosed they have mabey a year to live. Now this makes me a little angry because Im sure there should be a test to check to see if they have insuloma before surgery??? I could be wrong but I dont think so. Now my poor Bandit has mabey a year to live and with medications and possible seizures I dont know if I did the right thing (or the doctor) by doing this surgery. I dont want to keep him around just for my benefit and I want his quality of life to be happy. I would like to hear from others who have any advise on this situation. Or if they know of other doctors in my area. I just feel so bad for him and he is such a sweet guy. Sorry this is so long. Stacy Truelsen Fremont, CA repostacy@aol.com Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 10:24:47 -0500 From: teckart@oznet.ksu.edu Ferris, Maxim, K.C. surgeries Hi All - Ferris had his left adrenal removed in June. Since then his symptoms have gotten worse so yesterday Larry gave him a lupron depot injection. Hopefully this will help him for awhile. I'm torn on bi- laterals. We've had mixed results. A couple girls didn't do well, but LG and Andy are both bi-lateral and doing well. I'd like to avoid a second surgery for awhile, especially since the right looked fine in June. Two surgerys yesterday. Spleen and pancreatic tumor removal on Maxim and foreign body (surprise) and left adrenal removal on K.C. Larry wouldn't tell me what the foreign body (aliens????) was on the phone so I had to wait till I got down there last night. Wow. Two rather large (never would have passed out of the stomach) hairballs. No wonder K.C. was thin, although his appetite was good and his stools were just perfect. No indication other than the thinness. Maxim's spleen was huge and their was a growth on it. Both boys are recovering well so far. They are eating recipe, eliminating normally, and sleeping lots. K.C. did try to climb out of the hospital cage this morning and I heard a low moan as he stretched his tummy. :-( Both boys are sweeties. Larry was a bit disappointed. Maxim REALLY loves Larry. When we got there in the morning he paced the cage till I took him out and handed him to Larry,then he stretched as far as he could to shower Larry with kisses. Well after surgery Larry asked for a kiss and Maxim wouldn't kiss him. Larry's feelings were hurt. As soon as Maxim is feeling better I'll take him back so Larry can get his face washed with Maxim kisses again. :-) We have a rule. Before surgery, Larry or the vet techs have to hug and cuddle the little ones so they know they are loved in case they don't make it. So plenty of ferret hugging going around at the clinic when we come in. :-) I bought some melatonin capsules last night that were 1/2 mg. I may mix one with something (I'll check with the pharmacist to see what he suggests) and dose at a low dose for a couple possible adrenal boys. Anyone using melatonin and would like to relate their experiences please email me. Does it make them groggy? My condolences to those who have lossed a beloved little one and my prayers for those that have sick little ones. Warm hugs to all. tle Troy Lynn Eckart Ferret Family Services http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/ Please sign up to support our charity http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=46&mid=58395 Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 19:45:12 -0600 From: "Gary Holowicki" New food info, phone # in Co. Hi folks; It's becomming apparent that what my guys have homed in on one from 8 foods offered whucg gas a reason to be healthful for ferrets. It has no corn, which ferrets can't digest, so it displaces other nutrition. It's called "Natures' recipe feline maintinence". Both Petsmart & Petco carry it, far less cost than Totally ferrret too. It's in a dark grey bag with dark green stripe. Sizes available are 4 lb., 8 lb., & 22 lb. You don't want the "light" (too low on nutrition) or the kitten, (which they just started offering last summer, but it's so rich it cause the runs that don't reverse). The maintinence has 32% protein, & 15% fat, so it's sufficient for the guys. I also offer organic flax seed oil instead of ferretone. It's sold in the refrig. of health food stores, & is no more cost than feratone also. If you smell both it's easy to tell the flax seed oil is fresher & more desirable. I've also gone to offering Timmy's in water 24/7 a couple of years ago since one sheler found doing so stops insulinomic space out periods immediately. A couple of months ago 2 people each had ferts with cancer who were less than a year old. (Marshalls' farms, of course). They caled me for some Timmy's, and i mentioned the Natures' recipe, & the way I serve it in seperate dishes from other food so I can keep track who's eating what. They gave the Timmy's & offered the NR food, both ferts ate the NR, drank the tonic water kept available 24/7 next to their regular water, and both reported "new ferrets" in aobut one week. This was the fastest turn around to date. I'm also finally in Longmont, Colorado with a working phone line, which is 303- 684-2928. My cell# is 303-257-3500.. Darn cfs is a problem:) Take care, hugs to all. Gary & the gang of fur Timmy's web site=; He's the ferret totally healed from "terminal lymphoma" without drugs or surgery. :) Timmy's Mailing List = http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/TimmyFerret Timmy's Forum = http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=TimmyFerret Another emil for me is , in case the indrirect.com has trouble. ----------------------- End of FAIML #455 -------------------------